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1921 President Warren G Harding Cabinet Hughes Weeks Glass Plate Negative OOAK
Original, one-of-a-kind (OOAK) camera-original antique 4x5 gelatin silver glass plate negative captured in July 1921: an exceptional presidential documentary photograph showing President Warren G. Harding touring a historic Massachusetts cemetery alongside his key inner-circle cabinet leaders: Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes, Secretary of War John W. Weeks, and presidential secretary C. Bascom Slemp.
Accompanied by its original period newsroom archive slip bearing contemporary notation:
Historical & Visual Content:
In the summer of 1921, shortly after his inauguration, President Warren G. Harding traveled to Massachusetts with his cabinet to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims (Plymouth Tercentenary). During the trip, Harding and his top officials paid homage at historic regional landmarks, surrounded by military escorts and Secret Service details.
Captured on the spot with superb lens clarity by Boston Herald-Traveler staff photojournalist Leslie Jones:
President Warren G. Harding & Inner Circle: The President and his cabinet walk along the sloping grass past historic slate and granite headstones. Front and center stands Charles Evans Hughes (holding his silk top hat, wearing his trademark mustache), alongside Massachusetts native and Secretary of War John W. Weeks (gesturing toward the burial grounds in conversation), and presidential secretary/Congressman C. Bascom Slemp.
The Presidential Escort: A military officer in full uniform, Sam Browne belt, and breeches stands in the immediate foreground, while naval aides, Secret Service agents, and onlookers line the path. First Lady Florence Kling Harding is visible just behind the front party wearing a dark tailored day coat and cloche hat.
Authentic In-Camera Exposure: A pristine field negative showing rich, continuous tonal graduation, textured tree foliage, wool suiting fabrics, and untouched plate data-path-to-node="16">
Format: Heavy antique silver gelatin 4x5 glass plate negative, exposed directly in a press camera in July 1921.
Archive Ephemera Included: Accompanied by the original period handwritten newsroom filing slip.
Please Note: This listing is for the original antique glass plate negative and its period paper archive slip only. Any positive photographic images shown in this listing are modern inverted digital scans provided solely as a visual representation to show what finished photographs print like. No physical paper photograph, modern print, or paper product of any kind is included with this purchase.
Condition:
Very Good to Excellent antique condition. Heavy glass plate is structurally sound with no cracks, breaks, or fractures through the glass. The silver gelatin emulsion is remarkably sharp, clean, and stable throughout, capturing pinpoint clarity across the facial expressions of Harding and Hughes, clothing textures, and headstones. Displays only minor, authentic edge silvering strictly along the extreme outer borders outside the primary image area. Accompanied by the original period handwritten filing slip.
The glass plate negative measures 4 x 5In.
If you collect glass negatives, please check out our collection in our store. We are currently listing thousands of original glass photo negatives from this DJD collection through the remainder of the year. Follow our store, and feel free to reach out about any questions about the negatives in this collection.
Ships with extreme care in archival materials to ensure safe transit. Feel free to reach out with any requests or questions).
Combined shipping is available (with other glass negatives)
